CWA and ver.di, the largest union in Germany, have partnered to support T-Mobile workers in the U.S., and the global union movement has been a strong supporter of this effort. CWA and ver.di formed a joint union – TU – that represents T-Mobile workers on both sides of the Atlantic. Hundreds of TU members in the U.S. will welcome this news since of all the possible partners, AT&T will mean better employment security and a management record of full neutrality toward union membership and a bargaining voice. For T-Mobile USA workers who want a voice in their workplace, this acquisition can provide a fresh start with T-Mobile management. Some 42,000 ATT mobility employees are union represented.*

Over the years that the CWA has targeted T-Mobile employees, most have been resistant to the CWA’s pressure tactics. Now, however, with AT&T Mobility likely to turn the employees (and their paychecks) over to the CWA, if CWA’s tactics are rebuffed, the union can always use surrogates to threaten them with the full support of the union-controlled NLRB.

* Footnote:The vast majority of employees of AT&T Mobility’s main rival, Verizon Wireless, are not unionized.